It was a LONG time ago: May 1987. I was living in Pinson, Alabama and I had always wanted to go to a go to a “real” Science fiction convention. I had attended a couple of small events in Birmingham but these were mostly fan-run events that had little or no celebrity guests.
I was graduating high school in less than a month, and as a graduation gift my parents decided to let me go with friends to Dixie Trek. I was ecstatic. I had saved up money to buy the materials to make a Star Trek uniform from the new movies. I had bought the pattern, pins and buckle from Gene Roddenberry’s company Lincoln Enterprises. Aunt Peggy had volunteered to sew it for me.
Here’s the flyer promoting the event, which was held at the Hyatt Regency downtown (now one of the five hotels used to hold DragonCon every Labor Day weekend):
Look at that guest list! Leonard Nimoy! Jon Pertwee! George Perez! Anthony Daniels! Peter Weller! And more!
We got there and quickly found out that Leonard Nimoy had to cancel (he was directing Three Men and a Baby). I’ve since seen Nimoy at a couple of conventions before his passing, but never got his autograph. A great regret…
Here’s some of the highlights I remember:
- Being in an elevator with costumer Robert Fletcher, wearing the movie uniform he had designed. I asked if he liked it and he approved. I think he was just humoring me.
- Watching the opening scroll of Star Wars as they screened it for the movie’s 10th anniversary. I stood stage side as Anthony Daniels introduced the film, and then promptly left. Someone asked if he was going to stay and watch. “I’ve seen it,” he said, probably headed for the bar.
- Peter Weller may or may not have actually attended, but there was plenty of freebies they had for his new movie Buckaroo Banzai. I signed up to be a Blue Blaze Irregular at the con, and loved the mimeographed newsletters I started getting shortly thereafter. Here’s the first one I got.
- Seeing Jon Pertwee again – I had gone to a Doctor Who Experience in Birmingham when I was ten, which was a rolling bus tour filled with props and costumes. He was the first celebrity I had ever met, and I recently had to opportunity to tell his son Sean that in person. He seemed pleased with that.
- Robin Curtis. Saavik in Star Trek III. She was SO beautiful in person. As I understand it, she still is.
- Mark Lenard (Spock’s dad) was so gracious and kind to fans, He signed my Star Trek IV collectible magazine, for free! Still have it.
- The guests were much more approachable than at some conventions. I had a great hallway conversation with Robert Englund about how Nightmare on Elm Street 3 was so much better than 2. He agreed.
- Dealers. Oh my goodness, the dealers. I didn’t have much money, but I do remember getting some stuff for my collection.
Dixie Trek is long gone, but I still think it was one of the best conventions I’ve ever attended – I returned several times – one enjoyable memory was having drinks with June Lockhart (the mom from Lost in Space). I unfortunately missed the convention Christopher Reeve attended – one of his last public appearances before his tragic accident that paralyzed him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqgDdZ2dhac
Here’s some details from a great blog that writes about Atlanta conventions… And some may recall the episode of Big Bang Theory that refers to a fictional “Dixie Trek” as the source of Sheldon’s hate for Wil Wheaton. Until he was told otherwise, Wheaton actually thought it was a made-up con.